Prep at Carina State School

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Welcome to Prep – A year of discovery and growth

Prep is the first formal year of schooling in Australia and marks an exciting new chapter in your child’s learning journey. At Carina, our Prep program is designed to provide a joyful, engaging and nurturing environment where young learners flourish.

We understand that starting school is a big step for both children and their families. That’s why our Prep year focuses on building a strong sense of belonging, fostering curiosity and supporting each child to become a confident, capable and compassionate learner.

What makes Prep at Carina State School unique?

At Carina, we believe children learn best when they feel safe, valued and inspired. Our supportive school community ensures every child is known and cared for.

Our Prep program nurtures:

Curiosity – Encouraging students to ask questions, wonder about the world, and explore ideas through inquiry-based learning.

Collaboration – Teaching children to work together, share ideas, and develop social and emotional skills in a respectful environment.

Critical thinking – Guiding students to observe, reflect, and solve problems using age-appropriate pedagogies.

Change-making – Inspiring even our youngest learners to know their role in the community and how they can make a positive difference to society.

Learning in Prep

Our Prep curriculum follows the Australian Curriculum and Early Years Learning Framework, with a strong emphasis on:

Literacy – Building foundational skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening through stories, phonics, and rich language experiences. We follow the science of reading with a heavy focus on structured synthetic phonics in Prep.

Numeracy – Exploring number sense, patterns, measurement and problem-solving through practical, hands-on activities.

Inquiry and integrated learning – Connecting learning across subjects with themes and projects that spark student interest and promote deeper understanding.

Social and emotional learning – Developing independence, resilience, empathy and respect through daily routines and intentional teaching.

Perceptual Motor Program (PMP)

At Carina State School, our Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) is a vital part of our Prep year, designed to support the physical and cognitive development that underpins successful learning.

Through carefully structured activities, our Prep students build essential fine and gross motor skills—such as balance, coordination, body awareness, and spatial understanding. These skills are not only important for physical development, but also form the foundation for classroom tasks like sitting still, writing, concentrating and following directions.

Our weekly PMP sessions are fun, active and targeted. Students move through a range of engaging stations that help strengthen their core muscles, improve coordination and develop their ability to listen, plan and respond—all in a supportive and encouraging environment.

By investing in these early motor skills, we set our students up for success across all areas of their learning journey. It's just one more way we ensure a strong start for every child at Carina State School.

A day in the life of a Prep student

A typical day in Prep includes:

Warm and welcoming morning routines
Structured synthetic phonics lessons
Focused literacy and numeracy learning blocks
Indoor and outdoor play-based investigations
Creative arts, music, and physical activity
Storytime, reflection, and quiet time
Opportunities for student voice and choice in learning

Our flexible, child-centred approach supports smooth transitions and helps children build confidence in their new environment.

Supporting families and students with the transition to school

We know starting school is a journey for the whole family. At Carina State School, we work in partnership with parents and carers to ensure a positive start to school life.

Prep information evening – Meet with our Principal, Deputy Principal and Prep staff and learn about the Prep program at Carina.

Prep transition program – Our tailored transition sessions help children become familiar with the school, classroom routines and teachers before the first day of school.

Playgroup – Run by parent volunteers in association with Play Matters, Carina State School Playgroup meets every Tuesday morning from 9:00-10:45am in the Prep playground. This helps parents and children familiarise themselves with the Prep space before starting school and provides opportunities for families to meet and build friendships within our school community.

Partnering with local kindergartens – We build strong partnerships with our local Kindy providers to support a smooth Prep transition.

Community involvement – Families are warmly welcomed to be part of school events, learning experiences and celebrations throughout the year.

Enrolment information
We welcome enroments for Prep throughout the year. Children must turn 5 years old by June 30 of the year they start school.

To learn more about our Prep program or to arrange a school tour, please contact us at:
📞 (07) 3900 9666
📧 admin@carinass.eq.edu.au

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